Discharge louver



Dea. 16, 1930. 'H. F. SCHMIDT ,785,228

DISCHARGE LOUVER Filed Feb. 5, 1930 mg. I. 4.

WITNESS INVENTOR- ".F. Schmidt ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT opmcsfj HENRY r. SCHMIDT, or nsnsnownn, PENNSYLVANHK, Assrsnon. T wns'rmenoosn ELECTRIC & mannrncrunme COMPANY, A con-renames or rnn vsynvanra ,mscnanen LoUvE R Application fiidrebruar 5, 1930. Serial No. 426,144; 1

My invention relates to discharge louvers, for example, ventilating louvers such as used on the decks of ships for exhausting gaseous media from the compartments below to the outside atmosphere and it'has for an object to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall ofi er less' resistance to the flow ofthe gaseous media and which shall consequently operate with better eificiency.

tot'ore provided. I K

It has for another objectto provide apparatus of the foregoing character which shall provide for maintaining a uniform velocity ot' the gaseous media in all portions of the louver so as to entirelyavoid the creation of turbulence or eddy currents.

It has for-still another object to provide apparatus 01" the character designated which shall be so formed. as to efiect a velocity pressure conversion of. the gaseous media passing therethrough in order to obtain a better induction eiiect; :These and'other objects are efiected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims, taken. in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which: 1 is a View, in elevation, of one form of louver arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the louver shown in Fig. 1; and,

Figs. 3 and 4t are transverse, sectional views taken on the lines IIIIII and IV-IV of Fig. 2, respectively.

Louvers or" the discharge type, as heretofore provided, have, in an attempt to create an induction effect and also to makethem 40 rain-tight, been generallyso formed as to divide the gaseous media into a plurality of strata, the structures employed necessitating several changes in the velocity of flow of the gases. Severe changes in the direction of fioware also necessitated. As a result, conthan discharge louvers of the character heresiderable turbulence is created and resistance .to flow is set up in-the louver. Furthermore,-

the louvers of the prior art are so constructed that a considerable portion of the gasisim l pinged against the upper or top surface of the louver and thence deflected. through the outlets, whicharrangement creates further turbulent effects. 1 V

I have, therefore, conceivedthe idea of so forming a discharge louver that the several divisional passageways have. entrance areas, the total. ofwliich is approximately equal to the flowarea of the main ventilatingduct More particularly, I so arrange 'mylo uver that the velocity of flow is the same in the en-v trant portions of theseveraldivisionalfpassagewaysas in the'main -duct. Each'.-divi sional passageway radiates outwardly from the main duct ina course whichcontains but a single, smooth curve and the top of the duct forms the final divisional passageway so as to avoid gases beingimpinged against the .top of the duct and thence deflected into one of the divisional: passageways. In addition, I prefer to so arrange each divisional passage; wayso that its flow-area increases in the directionoi flow in order that the velocity of flow of the gaseous media may be reduced and "some of its kinetic energy transformed into' static pressure. As a result, thefstatic pressure prevailing at the exit end of each divisional passageway is, somewhat greater than at the entrant portion and the flow of the gaseous media is thereby induced rather than resisted. l have found that such a duct oflers a minimum amount ofresistance to flow of the gases and consequently better operating ethciencies are obtainable.

Referring now to the drawing, I show a main or primary duct 10 having an entrant portion 11 for I gases to be exhausted.- As shown, the primary duct is of-rectangular cross section but it may assume various other shapes in accordance-with the character of the ventilating system with which it is 1associated. Communicating with the primary duct 10 are a plurality, for example 3, divisional exhaust passageways 12, 13 and 14, all of which may radiate outwardly in all directions from the primary duct. As will be apparent from the drawing, each of the divisional passageways forms a closed polygonal or rectangular frame structure. In other words, in the present embodiment, each of the several divisional passageways extend completely about the axis of the louver, although, in other embodiments, they may not extend entirely around the louver. The total flow-area of the entrant portions of the several divisional passageways is approximately equal to the flow-area of the primary duct 10. Preferably, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the widths of the respective divisional passageways are equal but it will be obvious that some passageways may be wider than others without departing from the spirit of my invention, the primary object being to make the total flow-area of the entrant portions of the several divisional passageways approximately equal to the flow-area of the primary duct.

The divisional passageways 12, 13 and 14 may be formed by various types of structures. In the present embodiment, I decrease the flow-area of the primary duct 10 by superposed secondary and tertiary ducts 16 and 17 having progressively decreasing flow-areas. The divisional passageway 12 connects between the primary duct 10 and the secondary duct 16 and the divisional passageway 13 connects between the secondary duct 16 and the tertiary duct 17 while the divisional passageway 14 connects solely with the terminus portion of the tertiary duct 17. As will be apparent, the flow-area of the entrant portion 15 of the divisional passageway 12 is equal to the difference in flow-areas between the primary duct 10 and the secondary duct 16. Jikewise, the divisional passageway 13 has a flow-area at its entrant portion which is approximately equal to the difference in flowareas between the secondary duct 16 and the tertiary duct 17, while the flow-area of the entrant portion of the divisional passageway 14 is approximately equal to the flow-area of the tertiary duct 17.

The divisional passageway 12 may be formed by flanging the upper end of the primary duct 10 outwardly, as at 18, and by mounting above the flange portion 18 a rectangular or frame-shaped deflector 19 having, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, an arcuate cross-section. The deflector 19 is joined, as by welding, to the entrant portion of the secondary duct 16, as at 21, and the flange 18 and the deflector 19 may, if desired, have radii of curvature which are both struck from the same point. In this way, the width of the divisional passageway 12 is made uniform from its entrant portion 15 to its terminus portion 22. The secondary duct 16 is provided at its upper end with an outwardly projecting, frusto-pyramidal flange 23 secured to the deflector 19, as at 24, and projecting beyond the terminus portion 22 of the divisional passageway 12 in' order to provide a protecting hood for the same.

A deflector 25, formed in a manner similar to the deflector 19, cooperates with the secondary duct 16, and its flange portion 23 to form the divisional passageway 13. The tertiary duct 17, like secondary duct 16, has a projecting flange 26 connecting with the deflector 25, as at 27, and projecting beyond the point 25 to provide a hood for the divisional passageway 13. The deflect-0r 25 is joined to the tertiary duct 17 at 28.

superposed upon the top of the louver is a deflector 31 which cooperates with the tertiary duct 17 and its flange 26 to provide the divisional passageway 14. As shown in Fi g. 4, the deflector 31 has a cuspidated portion 32 extending along the major axis of the rectangle and dividing the tertiary duct 15 into portions communicating, respectively, with the oppositely-disposed portions of the divi-- l sional passageway 14. It will, therefore, be apparent that my improved louver is so constructed that the entrant area of the divisional passageway 14 is equivalent to the flowarea of the tertiary duct 17 so that the gaseous media passing through the tertiary duct 17 is conveyed out of the louver directly by the passageway 14, there being no top plate or dead end against which the air can be impinged before being deflected into the divisional passageway. The top of the louver is preferably fitted with a finishing plate 33 which is made water tight at 34 to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the converg ing portion of the deflector 31. In order to lend additional rigidity to the entire structure, numerous reinforcing plates 35 having their major axes extending in the direction of flow, are provided in various portions of the several divisional passageways.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised a form of ventilating louver wherein the gases pass through the entire louver with a uniform velocity and with only such slight changes in direction of flow as will render the device rain-tight. In this way, creation of turbulence as well as eddy currents is entirely avoided, and consequently no resistance to flow is offered by the louver.

Inasmuch as the several divisional passageways extend outwardly and entirely around the louver, their flow-areas increase in the direction of flow. Consequently, the velocity of flow of the gaseous media decreases as the gases pass through the divisional passageways. In this way, some of the kinetic energy of the gaseous media is transformed into static pressure, the pressure at the exit end 22 of each divisional passageway being slightly greater than at the entrant end 15. l

feet is obtained. I have found that'eXhaust louvers constructed iniaccordance with the foregoing principles operate with more effectiveness and higher efficiency than the types of exhaust louvers heretofore provided. l Vhile, in theforegoing description, I assoc'iate my louver, by way of example, with ventilating systems, it is. to beiinderstood that its use is not solely confined to such-systerms but that it may be employed with any form or type-of duct or conduit from'which itis'desired to liberate gaseousmedia of any nature. H 'WVhile'IhaVe shown 'my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat it is not so limited, butis susceptible of various changes and modifications "without "departing from the "spirit thereof and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifi cally set forth in the appended claims. WhatIclaimisf f1. 111 a ventilating louverv for gaseous media, the combination of'a main duct anda plurality of branch ducts foriexhausting gaseous media therefrom", said branch ducts having their entrant portions. facing in the a direction of flow of the gaseous media through the main duct and their discharge portions extending outwardly and about the entireperiphery of the main duct, the total flow-area of the entrantlportionsof said branch ducts being approximatelyffequal to the flow-area of the main ductfgj 1;

2. In a discharge louver "for gaseous media, the'combination of a maiirduct and a plurality of superposed, concentric branch ducts for exhausting gaseous media there from, said branch ducts having their entrant portions'facing inthe direction of the flow of the gaseous media through the main duct and their discharge portions curving outwardly and downwardly from the main duct, the total flow-area of the entrant portions of the branch ducts being approximately equal to 'the flow-area of the main-duct. r

3. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main duct and a plurality of branch ducts for exhausting gaseous media therefrom, said branch ducts having their entrant portions facing inthe direction of flow of the gaseous e media through the main duct andltheir discharge portions extending-outwardlyfrom the main duct and said branch ducts increasing in flow-area in a direction from their entrant portions toward their discharge portions so as to ,efiect a velocity-pressure conversionor the gaseous media passing therethrough.

th- In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main duct and a plurality of exhaust branch passageways having their entrant portions facing in the direction of'theflow of the gaseous media through the main duct and having their discharge portions curving outwardly with respect tothemain duct, the total flow-area ofthe entrant portions of all of the branch passageways being approximately equal to the flow-area ofthe main duct so as to provide uniformyelo-city of flow in both the main duct and the entrant portions of the branchpassageways; r a

' 5.'In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a duct, means disposed near one end of the duct for dividing the gaseous media therein into a stratum of relatively smaller fiow-area than the duct as well as additlonal surrounding stratum or :strata, and independent passageway means connecting with therespective strata and extending outwardly of the duct for exhausting the gaseous media therefrom, the total flow-area of the strata, the flow-area of the duct and the total flow-area of the entrant'portions of the exhaust passageways being approximately equal to each other so as toprovide a uniform velocity of flow of the gaseous media through these portions of the'louver.

"6. "Ina discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination ofa duct, means disposed near the outlet end of the duct for dividing the gaseous media therein into a plurality of concentric strata, and concentric independent assa 'ewa s connectin with the res ective r t: .7 b

strata and extending in the direction of the flow of" the gaseous media and thence outwardly "and backwardly aswell as entirely aboutithe duct for exhausting gaseous media fromjthelatter.

7. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the'combination of a duct, means disposed nearthe' outlet'end of the duct for dividing the latter into a plurality of concentric strata of progressivelydecreasing flow-areas, and superposed passageways having their entrant portions extending in the direction of flow and connecting, respectively, with the reduced portions of the duct and withthe terminus portion of the duct for exhausting gaseous mediatherefrom, said passageways having'their discharge portions projecting eutwardly irom the duct.

' In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main vertical duct, a secondary duct of relatively smaller flow-area disposed in "communication with the upper portion ofthe' main duct,ra branch passageway connecting with the entire area intervening between the main duct and the secondary duct for exhausting gaseous media therefrom and a second branch passageway connecting with the entire area of the upper portion of the secondary duct for exhausting gaseous media therefrom, both said first and second branch passageways projecting radially outwardly from their associated ducts.

9. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main vertical duct, a second vertical duct of relatively smaller flow-area disposed near the upper'end of the main duct and communicating therewith, an exhaust passageway connected between the upper end of the main duct and the lower end of the secondary duct and a second discharge passageway connecting with the upper portion of the secondary duct, both said first and second discharge passageways radiating outwardly and downwardly from their associated ducts.

10. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a duct for transmiting gaseous media upwardly and including a series of duct portions of progressively decreasing flow-areas superposed upon and communicating with each other so as to provide a duct having progressively decreasing flow-areas in the direction of flow, and ex- '3 haust passageways connecting, respectively,

with the entire areas intervening between the upper outlet and the lower inlet ends of adjacent duct portions, said exhaust passageways curving outwardly from the duct.

11. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a duct portion for transmitting gaseous media upwardly and including a series of open-ended duct portions of progressively decreasing flow-areas arranged in step relation so as to provide a duct having progressively decreasing flow-areas in the direction of flow, exhaust passages having entrant portions connecting, respectively, between the upper outlet and the lower inlet ends of adjacent duct portions, and an additional passageway connecting with the upper end of the top duct portion, the entrant portions of all of said exhaust passageways having a total flow-area approximately equal to the flow-area of the largest duct portion.

12. In a discharge louver, the combination of a plurality of coaxial, tubular elements of different sizes disposed at successively higher elevations with the smallest tubular element disposed uppermost, said tubular elements having their outer terminal portions curved outwardly, deflectors cooperating with the curved terminal portions to provide peripheral discharge passages, and means for supa porting successively smaller tubular elements from preceding tubular elements.

13. A louver for a discharge conduit comprising one or more tubular elements, the conduit and the tubular elements being arranged in telescopic relation so as to provide successively smaller flow-areas and the outer terminal portions thereof being arranged at successively higher elevations with the smallest uppermost, said outer terminal portions being curved outwardly, and deflectors cooperatin with said curved portions to provide disc arge passages.

14. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main duct portion for transmitting gaseous media upwardly and having its upper edge portion flanged outwardly, a. secondary duct portion of relatively smaller flow-area superposed upon the main duct portion and freely communicating therewith, a deflector joined at the lower portion of the secondary duct portion and projecting outwardly therefrom, said deflector forming with the flange portion of the main duct portion an exhaust passageway curving upwardly and thence outwardly and downwardly from the duct portions, a frusto-pyramidal flange depending from the upper portion of the secondary duct portion and projecting outwardly over said exhaust passageway to form a hood thereover, and a second deflector dis osed above the secondary duct portion and orming with said flange of the secondary duct portion a second exhaust passageway curving upwardly and thence outwardly and downwardly from the secondary duct portion.

15. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main duct portion for transmitting gaseous media upwardly, a plurality of secondary duct portions of progressively decreasing flow-areas superposed upon the main duct portion and freely communicating'with the main duct portion and with each other, a flange projecting outwardly from the upper edges of the duct portions including the main duct portion, a deflector joined torthe lower edges of each of the secondary duct portions and projecting outwardly therefrom, said deflectors forming, with their lower adjacent flanges, exhaust passageways curving upwardly and thence downwardly and outwardly beneath their upper adjacent flanges, and an additional deflector superposed upon the top secondary duct portion and forming with the flange projecting from the upper edge of said lastmentioned duct portion an additional exhaust passageway curving upwardly and thence outwardly and downwardly.

16. In a discharge louver for gaseous media, the combination of a main duct portion for transmitting gaseous media upwardly, a plurality of secondary duct portions of progressively decreasing ow-areas superposed upon the main duct portion and freely communicating with the main duct portion and with each other, a flange projecting outwardly from the upper edges of the duct portions including the main duct portion, a deflector joined to the lower edges of each of the secondary duct portions and projecting outwardly therefrom, said deflectors forming, with their lower adjacent flanges, exhaust passageways curving upwardly and thence downwardly and outwardly beneath their adjacent upper flanges, and an additional deflector superposed upon the top sec ondary duct portions and forming with the flange projecting from the upper edge there- 7 I In testimony whereof, I have hereunto suhscribed my name this 41th day of February, 1930.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT. 

